Netflix wins bidding war for Gordon-Levitt AI thriller

Netflix ↘ 1.25% has secured the rights to Joseph Gordon-Levitt's highly anticipated AI thriller in a competitive bidding war, with Rachel McAdams set to star in the lead role, according to multiple industry reports published Thursday.

The untitled project marks Gordon-Levitt's return to the director's chair more than 12 years after his 2013 debut "Don Jon". The film will be produced by Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman's T-Street Productions, reuniting Gordon-Levitt with the producing duo behind several of his previous collaborations.deadline+2

Star Substitution and Streaming Home

McAdams replaces Anne Hathaway, who was originally attached to the project when it was first announced in December. The reason for Hathaway's departure remains unclear, though industry sources suggest it may be due to scheduling conflicts with her upcoming roles in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" and "The Devil Wears Prada" sequel.screenrant+1

Netflix emerged victorious after Gordon-Levitt and T-Street felt the streaming giant provided "the right creative home for the package" and "fully embraced" the filmmaker's vision. The acquisition continues Netflix's partnership with T-Street, which previously delivered "Fair Play" and the "Knives Out" sequels to the platform.joblo+1

AI Themes and Personal Stakes

While plot details remain confidential, the thriller is expected to explore themes surrounding artificial intelligence's impact on creativity—a subject Gordon-Levitt has passionately advocated for in recent months. In June, at the United Nations' Internet Governance Forum, Gordon-Levitt delivered a pointed speech warning that AI's impact "could mean that creativity as we know it sort of goes away" if not properly regulated.deadline+3

"Your digital self should belong to you," Gordon-Levitt stated during the UN forum. "The data that humans produce—our writings and our voices and our connections, our experiences, our ideas—should belong to us". Gordon-Levitt co-wrote the screenplay with Kieran Fitzgerald, his collaborator on 2016's "Snowden," with both sharing story credit alongside Natasha Lyonne. A 2026 production start is being eyed, with additional casting announcements expected in the coming weeks.joblo+3